Guidelines on packing lunches

Please only send healthy food to GAP. We are a healthy-habits play school, and we believe that healthy habits are best learnt early in life, and this includes eating healthy food at play school and learning the difference between “everyday foods” and “sometimes foods”.

Do not send any chocolates / lollies / sweet drinks (including juice and flavoured milks). If your child does bring in any of the above, staff will likely send the food item back home with your child for him to enjoy later in the car or at home.

Always bring a water bottle to GAP. Drinking plenty of water is a great habit to get into – the earlier, the better, and it’s the best thirst-quencher. We have spare water bottles if you forget yours – take one from the kitchen and fill it up for your child.

Please do not send any peanuts / products containing peanuts to GAP. Some children at the GAP have known severe allergies to peanuts.

Please make sure fruit and veggies are peeled / cut up so your child can manage on his own. When packing fruit and veggies for your child to take to GAP, please take into account your child’s eating habits and skills. Some children refuse fruit unless it is cut up, and some don’t have the skills yet to peel fruit by themselves. Preschool-aged children love being independent, and managing their food from home without help from grown-ups builds their self-esteem.

Our children love chatting to our teachers during mealtimes at the tables, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for teachers for small-group and one-on-one interactions with children. The less fruit needs to be peeled and cut by teachers, the more time for valuable mealtime conversations in German!

Please remember to pack food in easy to open lunch boxes / containers.

Please be aware that certain foods could potentially be a choking risk for a young child.

When sending food to playschool for your child, please prepare it in a way your child can handle without choking. The ACT Department of Health has provided some recommendations regarding avoiding choking risks for young children.

Please only send food that does not require reheating. Alternatively, please use a food thermos if you wish to send in warm food during winter. Our license doesn’t allow us to heat up food for your child.

BirthdaysIf you want to bring food to the GAP for all children to enjoy (for example, small cupcakes, muffins or a platter of sliced fruits) to celebrate your child’s birthday, that would be lovely. On arrival, please let the teachers know about the ingredients so we can consider food allergies / intolerances / family food preferences when we help your child to share the food around. Please keep in mind that we are a healthy-habits playschool, so the healthier the treat, the better.

Thank you very much for your co-operation in all food-related matters at GAP. If you have any further questions / concerns please talk to us. Thank you!